Creating drawings with API

[grunt58]

I'm looking for some info/links on creating drawings with API. We want to automate the creation of our standard drawings where only are length and positions of cuts relative to the length change.

Our dealer is looking into it but I think you guys know more and are better than he is.

Thanks

P.S. The example he sent us was a simple block with 2 dims. Said he would contact the the API people at SolidWorks. So that will be a couple of weeks before we here anything.

 

[EvanBasalik]

Drawings can typically be very hard to automate b/c the cost/benefit ratio can quickly get out of whack. That being said, it your dimensional changes are pretty small, it can definitely be done. If your VAR cannot do the work, you can always contact TriMech Services (my old employer) - they do that kind of work regularly.

Evan T. Basalik, MCSD
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It's all about prioritization...

 

[grunt58]

We want to have a default drawing set up and dimmed how we want it. Then our plan is to open that default drawing change the configuration then save as. Where we hit a snag is when we change connfig. the dims don't stay in place. Someone would have to come in and clean up the drawing. We need total automation with these simple drawings.

I think a block might be what we want to use then change the block dims or use XX as the value of the dim and update a table a "length" table on the drawing.

 

[ctopher]

Why not just setup standard dwg templates? The more automated, the more complicated.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[EvanBasalik]

Based on your description, I think it can be done via either automation. The standard drawing templates would work, but would not be able to clean up the drawing. Automation would allow you to set up some rules and then clean up the drawing according to those rules.

Evan T. Basalik, MCSD
--------------------------------
It's all about prioritization...

 

[ctopher]

Trying to understand, what is there to clean-up?

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[EvanBasalik]

Typically, when you change dimensions enough, some of the detailing gets out of place. That is the kind of stuff that needs cleaned up.

Evan T. Basalik, MCSD
--------------------------------
It's all about prioritization...

 

[ctopher]

If you have a solid model and dimension it in a dwg, detailing can't get out of place.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716